Ricky Ponting and Australian Cricket

India have won the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2-0. Celebrations all around. In the hullaboo of these celebrations, the media has gone about with great pomp and show, defaming Ricky Ponting. A man who with all honesty has been the second best batsman in the modern era of Cricket after Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

Somehow, after the Ashes 2005 it has become a sort of a fashion to ridicule Ponting in ultra gloomy pictures. Perhaps his disappointed face is very picturesque, but why is it that we derive so much pleasure out of it! Even after the loss of this series, such images of Ponting were commonplace. ESPNSTAR, a sports entertainment channel who enjoys monopoly in South Asia has taken a fancy to these images. Every once in a while, Ponting is seen putting his head down in his clasped hands as if he just lost his house to forest fires!

One of the many shots that show a little more than is actually happening!

People notice because a gladiator has fallen.

Wake up boys, the guy is a three time world cup winner. Twice the captain of World Champion side that came closest to emulating what the West Indies were. At least in terms of dominating world cricket. Ricky Ponting is a part of the team that was invincible with the likes of Glen Mcgrath, Shane Warne, Matthew Hayden, Steve Waugh and lots of other champion cricketers. He was an integral part of this team, he belongs in this elite list of legends.

Ponting is not a one-man force, agreed. But who is? The game of cricket is played with eleven players a side. It’s the capability and execution of these eleven players along with the guidance of the captain that a team wins or loses. And to doubt his captaincy, after he has won so much that cant be cemented due to the limitation of my word limit, is crass ridiculous.

A huge job on his hands!

Critics who have been blinded by the Australian Cricket Team’s relative failure in the past year or two need to keep in mind that the team is going a transition. All these above-mentioned legends have retired recently, and somebody had to take the crown of thorns to secure a risky transition. Ricky Ponting is a christ-figure in some way, he has taken the burden of Australian Cricket on his shoulders and suffers now at the hands of the harsh media. Even colleagues have turned against him, which is understandable since they too our countrymen and don’t like to see Australia lose. No Australian wants to lose, its a spirit that few have. They might be sore losers at times, but nevertheless.

The Ashes 2010 is coming up, and there can be no better a man to lead Australia into it. Michael Clarke is a potent vice-captain, a potent VICE- Captain. Under this much pressure, he will crumble like a cookie does under the feet of a well-fed elephant. It will be best for Australia’s future if Ponting drives them into this turbulent future, a future that will test the Australian side against a rising English side. A future that will also put at stake the ODI Championship at stake in early 2011.